asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the excessive speed of motor vehicles along the Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, is causing complaint amongst the residents; and will he take immediate steps to abate the nuisance.

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that one such complaint has been received by the local police, and special observation has been kept on Brigstock Road. Three cases of dangerous driving have been reported during the last month, but it cannot be said that excessive speeds are general. The matter will continue to receive attention.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that road transport companies advertise time schedules, the punctuality of which involve consistent excession of the legal speed limit; and does he pro- pose to take any steps to amend a law which is thus flouted.

The draft Road Traffic Bill which I caused to be cirlated some time ago contains proposals for the amendment of the law relating to the speed of motor vehicles.

asked the Home Secretary the number of summonses that have been issued in the Metropolitan area for the 12 months ending to the last convenient date against motor cyclists whose motor cycles have not been fitted: with efficient silencers.

During the 12 months ended 31st May, 1928, 13,574 summonses were issued in respect of ineffective silencers on motor cars and motor cycles. No separate record is kept in respect of motor cycles.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the calamity in Hamburg, attended with serious loss of life, caused by the explosion of a tank containing a poison gas called phosgene, he can say if any such or similar gases are stored in this country; and, if so, what precautions are taken against the possibility of their escape on to the civil population.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked yesterday on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for the Central Division of Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Home Secretary the number of committees set up in Great Britain to deal with cases of silicosis and for deciding the payment of compensation to those workers who are incapacitated by the effects of silicosis?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the Joint Committee set up under the Refractories Industries (Silicosis) Scheme. There are seven such committees.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a return showing the number of infants vaccinated per cent. of the births for the past five years in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford (Yorks), Leeds, Warrington and Darlington?

Figures for 1927 are not yet available but the following

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that quantities of fish have been recently killed in the River Penk owing to the action of the corporation of Wolverhampton in discharging crude sewage into that river; whether a certificate was granted to the corporation by the Ministry of Health authorising that proceeding; and, if so, upon what grounds this was done?

I am aware of this matter. A certificate was granted under a local Act of 1891 by an inspector appointed by me but, under the Act, on his own responsibility. There is an appeal to me; and an appeal has, in fact, been received and is under consideration. I may add that the certificate did not authorise the discharge of crude sewage.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been sanctioned, and how many completed, under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924, by rural district councils in Berkshire, the cost per house, the size, and the rent?

Up to 1st May last, 551 houses had been authorised for erection and 474 houses had been completed by rural district councils in Berkshire under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. The average prices of houses included in contracts let by rural authorities in the county during the past twelve months were £415 in the case of non-parlour houses, and £470 in the case of parlour houses, and the average sizes of such houses were 771 superficial feet and 920 superficial feet respectively. I am unable to furnish particulars as to the rents of these houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any reports from Poor Law authorities as to justices of the peace visiting and inspecting workhouses in the area where they have juris- diction for the purpose of ascertaining whether the rules, orders and regulations are duly observed?

I have no such Reports.

asked the Minister of Health the latest available figures in the birth rate per thousand in the boroughs of Kensington and Southwark, respectively?

With regard to the figures for the year 1927, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 25th April last to a question by the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison). The corresponding figures for the first quarter of 1928 will be found in the Registrar-General's Quarterly Return for that period.

asked the Minister of Health why a number of new entrant writing assistants, who were employed at Acton during last year solely for new work in connection with the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, have already been transferred to other sections of the Ministry of Health to deal with an abnormal pressure of work, while in that departmen ex-service temporary clerks are under notice terminating their employment (luring the present month?

A small number of writing assistants have been transferred from the pensions branch to other branches or my Department to deal with special and urgent work, appropriate to the writing assistant grade. The question of cancelling an equivalent number of notices given to temporary ex-service clerks is receiving my consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the proposed transference of the limb-fitting centre at Uffculme to Lionel Street, Birmingham, is causing concern to the limbless ex-service men on the ground that the change will not provide adequate accommodation; and will he state the cost of the present and the new establishments, respectively?

Any such apprehensions as those referred to are, I am satisfied, entirely groundless. The accommodation which is being provided at the area office, so far from being inadequate, is quite as extensive as that now occupied by the centre at Uffculme, and, in view of the more central position, should be found much more convenient to pensioners. It is, I fear, not practicable to arrive at the comparative cost of the old and new arrangements. The position is that, on the one hand, Uffculme Hospital—of which only a small part has been used for the limb centre—is now no longer required by the Ministry, whilst, on the other hand, the contraction of the work of the area has rendered it possible for the centre to be transferred to the area headquarters without the need for increasing accommodation there. It will be seen, therefore, that, while a very substantial saving is being effected, no new cost is being incurred.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of school buildings in Berkshire classified as unsatisfactory; where they are situated; and how many are Church of England schools?

In the geographical area of Berkshire there were originally eight schools on the Black List, two on List A and six on List B. One of the schools on List B has now been removed from the list, The remaining seven schools are situate at Lambourne, Maidenhead, Swallowfield, Wantage and Windsor. Four of the List B schools are Church of England schools; the two List A schools are both council schools. In all cases, except two, arrangements for replacement or improvement are under way, and in two cases plans have been finally approved.

asked the President of the Board o Education the names of the Committee he is setting up to inquire into education for salesmanship?

I am afraid I am not yet in a position to make a statement as to the arrangements for carrying out this inquiry.